The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1887-05-19
The Assassination OF r. d. Gam
brell.

Rev. J. n. Gambrrll in the Southern Dap
tist Record.
The wires have horne the fact 10
the world that r. u. Gambrell was
killed on the night OF the 9th instant
by Jones :. Hamilton. We, with
Mrs. Gambrell, had just reached
Louisville, n.y., to attend the South
ern Baptist Convention, when a
brief telegram called US back to a
desOlate home.
In this article. We must write as q
citizen and christian, not as iath-
er. Al another time, we may yield
TO the strong impulse of a father
who is bereaved Of q brave, bright,
loyal son, but that must be when
the turhid stream of sorrow has
come to an even flow.
II is known that K. ID. Gambrell
was editor of the prohibition paper
of Miss In that capacity, and as
u citizen, he has, during his resi-
dence in Jackson waged relentless
war on the saloons and their abet-
tors. The conflict took many
shapes, which need not I've described.
In process of time Col. Hamilton
was developed "a the real leader Of
the whisky ring. He was on the
bonds of several saloon men and
was party to suits brought by the
slain Editor on the bonds of saloon
lists. Then it is known widely, that
Hamilton lead the whiskey side in
the local option contest and precipi-
tatrd q campaign Of indescrihable
bitterness. During all this time
the two men were in the sharpest
antagonism.
Along with this, was the Sword
and Shields opposition to the leas.
ing of the penitentiary and especi-
ally to Senator Hamilton's manage
ment of the penitentiary. During
the sitting of the last legislature,
the paper published the grave
charges made by the legislative in
vestigating committee, and since
then has kept the affairs of Hamil-
ton, in connection with the peni
Tertiary before the public.
These two lines of antagonism
converged and blended into one. be
cause Hamilton supported the Sa.
looms of jackson and throughout the
State, while the saloon influence
s"lidly supported Hamilton in his
political aspirations and in his
management Of the penitentiary.
This state of things brought the two
men face to face at every turn in
the pursuit Of their separate pur
poses.
Recently a card appeared in the
Clarion in the usual way Of candi-
dating, calling on Hamilton to
stand again tor the Senate. The
Sword and Shield in its next issu"
restated and published the sub
stance of the allegations made by
the investigating csmmiltee, togeth
er with other charges which had
been made from time To time, 10y the
press. The editors fixed purpose
was to keep these things before the
people as reasons why Hamilton
should not any longer control in 20
liLical matters. For some days.
there was apprehension of person
nal difficulty and R"derick Gam
brell was kept on the alert by his
friends. Some thought Hamilton
would attack him openly, but many
believed that he would lead crowd
Of saloon people to assassinate him
when they could get him at disad-
vantage. He could not be made to
believe Hamilton capable of such a
thing In truth, he was stranger
to fear. And then, from time to
time, since his fight in jackson be-
gan. he had received anonymous
threats that he would be killed, il he
did not cease his war on the saloon.
5, he was use TO IL.
On leaving home Tuesday night
we had a long talk with him, and
drew from him O promise not to ex
bose himself at night, and he had
constantly said he would never at
tack Hamilton. 1t comes out now,
that he had word from Hamilton
through a mutual friend that there
would be no trouble. This put him
of guard completely, and he went
down to Clinton to see Pres. Hill
man on business, and told Brother
Hillman all the danger was past
Returning about 10 o'clock at night,
he was seen by one Of Hamilton's
crowd at the depot and they. turn
ing away, went on to the bridge,
deployed, and he fell under the muir
dcrous fire of their pistols.
Col. Hamilton's story, that Gam.
brell opened the fight and that he
killed him, has been completely bro
ken down before the Coroner's Jury,
which after painstaking examina-
ton. rendered a verdict that Rod
erick Gambrell came to his death by
pistol shots and wounds inflicted by
the hands of Jones s. Hamilton, as